Drapery hook dispensing and inserting apparatus



M. A. SALTZ Jan. 24, 1961 DRAPERY HOOK DISPENSFNG AND INSERTINGAPPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nbv. 22, 1955 Maze/:42 5 4472' INVENQOR.

' g prim/ M. A. SALTZ Re. 24,929 DRAPERY HOOK DISPENSING AND INSERTINGAPPARATUS Jan. 24, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 22, 1955Dem: (/wr IIIIIIIIIII IffI/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIdflllfillirilflfla Maze/:19.$44 72,

INVENTOR.

flrrae 4/594 Jan. 24, 1961 MIA. sALTz Re. 24,929

DRAPERY HOOK DISPENSING AND INSERTING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 22,1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Maze/5A7. $41. 72,

#7 rave/wry.

United States Patent f DRAPERY HOOK DISPENSING AND INSERTING APPARATUSMorris A. Saltz, 1083 S. Ogden Drive, Los Angeles 19, Calif.

Original No. 2,821,713, dated Feb. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 548,502, Nov. 22,1955. Application for reissue July 14, 1958, Ser. No. 749,044

28 Claims. (Cl. 1-1) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention relates to apparatus for inserting hooks indrapes, curtains, or similar flexible articles, that are to be hung bythe hooks from a suitable support.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forinserting drapery books into drapes, and like articles, in an eflectiveand simple manner, instead of by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provfde an apparatus forautomatically feeding drapery hooks from a suitable supply, andinserting such hooks in drapery at any desired locations and in a propermanner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for forcingt e point of a drapery hook into the drapery material, feeding the hookalong the drapery, and then forcing the point of the hook back into thedrapery material, to insure secure attachment of the hook to the drape.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forinserting a drapery hook into the drape at a seam thereof, withassurance that the hook will be forced into the material of the drapeitself and not be merely disposed in the seam where it could possiblyeffect an eventual tearing of the line of stitching at the seam.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forinserting drapery books into drapes at desired points thereof, in whichthe app ratus is quickly adjustable to accommodate drapes of dilferentthickness of material and of pleated portions.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus fordispensing and inserting hooks into drapes and the like, and embodyingan inexpensive contatiner for a stack of hooks to retain the hooks inappropriate position and to insure their automatic sequential feedinginto the apparatus for insertion into the drape.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable ofinserting drapery hooks in fabric in a rapid and economical manner.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a formin w ich it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will nowbe described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an isometric projection of a portion of a box containing asupply of drapery hooks, with the end of the box in open position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of Re. 24,929Reissued Jan. 24, 1961 "ice the apparatus, taken along the line 4--4 onFig. 5, showing the pin drive and inserting plate in its maximum forwardposition;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 55 on Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of a portion of theapparatus showing the drive plate alone at its maximum rearward positionfor receiving a drapery hook;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, disclosing the position of the driveplate when the pin is on the verge of being inserted into the drape;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, disclosing the apparatus near theend of its forward position during the insertion of the hook in a drape;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken along the line 99 on Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view disclosing the insertion of a draperyhook at a seam of a drape;

Fig. 11 is a view taken along the line 11-11 on Fig. 10.

The apparatus disclosed in the drawings is designed to receive a draperybook from a suitable supply, insert the point of the drapery hook pinportion into the fabric of a drape, or the like, then feed the pin alongthe drape, and when it has almost been disposed along the drape to itsfullest extent, cause the point of the pin to move slightly in anoutward direction to again pierce the fabric of the drape.

As specifically shown, each drapery hook 10 that is to be dispensed bythe machine and inserted in the drape includes the pin portion 11terminating in a forward point 12, the other end of the pin portion 11merging into a curved web 13 which, in turn, merges into an inner arm 14extending generally parallel to the pin portion 11. The outer portion 15of the inner arm is bent outwardly at an angle, being inclined in aforward direction away from the pin portion. This bent arm portion 15,in turn, merges into a rearwardly and outwardly bent portion 16 of anouter arm 17, the rearwardly projecting portion of which is generallyparallel to the inner arm 14 of the book itself. In effect, the twoinclined inner and outer arm portions 15, 16 form a general V-shape, inorder that the drapery hook may be suspended from and carried by asuitable hanger (not shown), in a known manner.

The drapery book 10 is adapted to be received within a slotted andrecessed portion of a drive plate 18, which is slidably mounted upon anupper supporting plate 19 of the frame of the apparatus, this uppersupporting plate being suitably secured to the vertical walls 20 of thehousing frame, which encloses the drive mechanism. A top plate 21 iscarried by the upper supporting plate 19 of the frame in spaced relationthereto, the distance between the two plates 19, 21 being slightlygreater than the thickness of the hook drive plate 18, so they willappropriately guide and confine the latter during its sliding movementtherebetween. The appropriate spacing between the top plate 21 and thesupporting plate 19 is provided by spacer rings 22 disposedtherebetween, the two plates being secured together by means of screws23 extending through the top plate 21 and threaded within suitable holesin the supporting plate 19.

The drive plate 18 is adapted to be shifted to a rearward position inalignment with a supply of hooks 10, which are carried above the topplate 21, preferably within a suitable container or box 24. The hooks 10are appropriately arranged in the box in the manner describedspecifically hereinbelow, being adapted to move singly from the lowerend of the box, through an opening 25 in the top plate, into the slottedrecess portion at the forward corner portion of the drive plate 18,

which is designed to snugly accommodate a hook. Thus, the plate has arecess 26in its front margin to receive the pin and inner arm portions11, 14 of the hook, the recess being enlargedinan inward. direction toaccommodate the. curved Web. portion 13 offthe. hook; The. plate isfurther cut out to provide an inclined edge 27' conformingto the.inclined portion 150i the inner arm, this edge 27" terminating at aninclined slot 28 which conforms generally to the inclination oftheinclinedportion 16' of the outer arm 17 of the hook, this inclinedslotmerging into an inner. slot portion. 29 that is generally parallel tothe front edge 30 of the plate, and'which is designed to accommodate thestraight portion of the outer arm 17." In effect; the recessand slotportions 26, 2'8, 29'defi'ne a drivingdog or. lug-31.0f'the platehavingv forward tapered sides 27, 32 adapted to. engage. the inclinedportions 15, 16 of the hook, in order to. effect a.

coupling of' the hook to the plate 18, whereby the.

hook can be driven in a forward direction by the plate.

The driving plate 18 is disposed'at the front portion of. the topplate21, and is guided along a predetermined path by a cam slot device.33. formed in the supporting plate 19 of the'frame. The plate. 18hasapair of spaced pins 34, 35 depending therefrom and adapted tobe re:ceived in the. cam slot 33. The pins have a. diameter substantiallyequal to the width of the slot, so that the shape of the slot 33produces a corresponding movement of the drive plate 18 andof the hook10 coupled thereto. The cam slot has a rearward. portion 36. inclined ina rearward direction away from the frontof the machine.

When the plate is shifted in a rearward direction, the pins 34, 35 willride rearwardly in the slot and when.

the rear pin 34 engages. the. rear slot.portion.36, it will angle theplate 18 to the position disclosed. in Fig. 6,

wherein the pin receiving portion 26, 28 of the plate is.

disposed under the opening 25 and. the supply of pins 10. Some; part ofthe plate 18'at all times lies under the open-. ing 25 in thetop plate21. ofltheapparatus, and it is only when the slot and recess. portion26, 28 of. the plate is disposed under the opening that a hookr10. can.drop thereinto from the vertical stack. or supply of hooks in thecontainer 24. The drive plate 18 is substantially the same thickness asa book 10, in order thatthehook can slide along and between the topplate..21 and the sup.- porting; plate .19of the machine.

Therearwardlycurved camv slot portion 36 merges into a substantiallystraight slot portion. 37 that is generally parallel to the front edge21a of the top. plate. As the pin drive plate 18 is moved in a.forwarddirection from the position shown in Fig. 6, it will carry thepin 11 in a forward. direction, the point 12 of. the pin being disposedat a'substantial angle to the front edge 21a of the machine and to anydrape or other material disposed in the. plane of the pin (see plate 18position in Fig. 7). As. the plate 18 moves in a forward direction, itwillpierce the point12 of the pin into the fabric, whereupon theforwardpin or follower 35 will ride along the relatively straight slot portion37', the rear pin. or follower 34 moving from the rear curved slotportion 36 toward and. intov thev straight slot portion, in order todispose the pin. 11 substantially parallel to the fabric of thematerial, the plate 18 then occupying the position shown in Fig. 8. Whenin this position, the pin 11. has almost completed its forward motion,but the plate 18 and hooklO are still movable in a forward direction toa small extent. From its straight portion 37, the slot has a short,inclined portion 38, slanting slightly toward the rear of the machine,so that a continued forward motion offthe plate 18 then tends to shiftthe forward or slotted part of the platein' an upward direction, tocause the point 12 of. the pin, which is now disposedwithin the fabric,to shift in an outward direction and thus pierce the fabric once. again,which will prevent the pin 11 from moving freely. within the fold of thedrape. This final forward position of the plate is illustratedin Fig, 4.Whenimthis position, the hook 10 is disposed in alignment with anopening 39in the'top plate 21 of the apparatus, which will enable thehook to be lifted upwardly by the operator out of the drive plate 18 andthe apparatus.

In the apparatus sepecifically disclosed, the drive plate 18 is moved bya power device. Thus, an electric motor and" a. gear: reducer" unit 40is carried by a supporting plate 41 disposed within the' frame' of theapparatus and suspended from the top supporting plate 19 ofthe frame bya plurality of bolts-42, the-drive unit supporting plate 41 being spacedthe appropriate distance below the frame supporting plate 19 by spacersleeves' 43 encompassing the bolts and'extendingbetween-the plates. Thevertical drive shaft 44 of the drive unit has a crank 45 affixed theretoto which a crankpin... 46 is secured; This crankpin has one end of aconnecting rod or link 47 pivotally secured thereto, the-other. endofthe"connecting'rod'being pivotaL ly"m'ountedon one of th'evpins, suchias thefcrward; pin or follower 35 attached to the drive plate.

As the drive shaft 44 is rotated by the drive unit 40', it will cause. areciprocation of the drive plate 18. through the agency ofthe crank 45,connecting rod 47 andithe forward follower pin 35, the throwof the crank45. being. such" asto move the plate between itslfull'forward'positiondi'sclosed'in Fig. 4, and its full rearward position disclosed'in Fig.6.

The electric circuit to the motor unit 40 is controlled by a suitablestop and start switch 48 carried in any convenient manner, as by thedrive unit supporting plate 41. This switch may havea starting button49' projecting through a suitable hole or opening in thefront wall ofthe frame or housing 20, and it also hasastopbutton 50 projecting fromits rear. This. stop buttonis actuated by' a leaf spring arm 51 securedto the switchitselfand overlying the:button 50, and. extending. intothe. path of travel of. the crank 45. The crank has aprojectingpon tion52 adapted to engage the free end of. the: arm: 51, so as. to actuatethe stop button. 50 and. stop the ap paratus when thedrive plate 18 hasshifted..the pin. point 12 of ahook up to the edge 21a of thernachine,where. the point ison the verge ofheing forced into thedrape-ry fabric.The crank 45 has a second stop button operator 53 suitably secured.thereto, which is adapted toengage the spring arm 51 to stop the driveunit 40 and thernotion of. the drive plate 18 when the pin portion 11.ofthe hook has been fully disposed in the drapery material, withitspoint 12 projected in the outward direction to pieroethe material, suchas disclosed in Fig. 4. Of course, between these two stopping positions,the starting button 49' is actuated by the operator to insituteoperation. of the apparatus once again.

The portion of'the drape into which a hookis to be insertedis'pla'cedupon a platform or vertically movable supporting plate 54 disposedadjacent thefront e-ndof the apparatus,.and below the plane of. its topplate 21. This supporting'plate 54 has a pair of generally verticalguide rods55 secured thereto and depending therefrom, these guide rodsbeing slidable through the. spaced upper and lower flanges 56, 57 ofabracket 58 suitably secured to the front wall of the frame and housing20. The supporting plate 54' is urged toward its uppermost position byhelical compression springs 59 disposed around theguide rods 55, thelower ends of the springs engaging the lower flange 57 of thebracket'and the upper ends of'the springs engaging spring seats orcollars 60 suitably securedto the guide rods.'55 below the upper bracketflange 56.. It will. be noted thatthe supporting ,plate 5.4 canbedepressed against the force of the springs 59, and. thattherelievingof the depressingforce willcause the spring to. elevate the supportingplate to its uppermost position, as.-deter= mined by engagement of thespring seats 60 with the upper. bracket flange 56.

Agaugefil isslidably mounted on the-platform or-sup= porting plate 54,in order that hook-smay be'insertedin' various types andsizes .of drapesat .apredeterminedpoint from their upper edges. This gauge includes agenerally horizontal portion 62 having a longitudinal slot 63 thereinthrough which a plurality of screws 64 extends that are threaded intothe supporting plate 54. The gauge terminates in an upwardly directedstop fiange 65, against which the upper end of a drape can bear. Byloosening the screws 64, the gauge 61 can be shifted along thesupporting plate 54 to the desired position, depending upon the distancethe hooks are to be inserted in the drape from its top edge. When thegauge 61 has been adjusted to the proper position, the screws 64 areretightened, to hold the gauge in such position.

The apparatus has a guide or indicator 66 (Fig. 9) to determine how farthe operator must depress the supporting plate 54 to insure theinsertion of a hook at a drapery seam, or at any other desired location.This guide or indicator includes a leaf spring arm 67 attached to thefront Wall of the frame and housing, this arm extending above the planeof movement of the drive plate 18 and terminating in an inwardlydirected finger 68 which is disposed just above such a drive plate. Thisinwardly directed finger is readily visible to the operator, who willplace a portion of a drape on the supporting plate 54, and then exert adownward force on the drape until the supporting plate depresses to thepoint at which the seam of the drape, at which the hook is to beinserted, is in alignment with the finger 68. The operator then knowsthat during the operation of the machine the hook will be inserted inthe drape at the proper location.

As stated above, a stack of hooks is supported vertically in a suitablecontainer 24, such as a plastic, paper or metal box. The specific boxdisclosed in the drawings, and more particularly in Fig. 3, isrelatively inexpensive to make and serves as a means for storing adesired number of hooks 10 in proper stacked relation and forsequentially feeding such hooks into the recessed and slotted portion26, 28 of the drive plate as they are needed. The paper box 25 includesopposed generally parallel side walls 69, 70 integral with a front wall7. One of the side walls 70, in turn, merges into a back wall 72,whereas the other side wall 69 merges into another back wall 73 that isdisposed forwardly of the first back wall 72. The back walls 72, 73merge into respective inner walls 74, 57 that extend into the boxbetween the side walls 69, 70 and, in effect, serve to divide the boxinto two vertically extending portions that have a communicating passage76 at the forward portion of the box, by virtue of the fact that theinner walls 74, 75 terminate a substantial distance short of the frontwall 71 of the box.

The drapery hooks 10 can be readily stacked in the box so far described,with the pin and inner arm portions 11, 14 disposed between one sidewall 70 and the inner wall 74, the outer arm 17 being disposed in thebox between the other side wall 69 and inner wall 75, the free ends ofthe inner walls 74, 75 being adapted to engage the V-shaped portions 15,16 of the hooks to prevent any substantial movement of the latter withinthe box. The ends of the box may be closed by an inner end closure 77integral with one of the back walls 73 adapted to be folded over thehooks to reach to the front Wall 71. Another inner end closure 78 isintegral with the other back wall 72, and may be bent downwardly toterminate at the front wall 71. After these inner end closures 77, 78have been folded into place, an intermediate end closure 79, which isshaped to conform to the cross-section of the box, may then be foldedover the inner end closures, after which an outer cover 80 integral withthe side wall 70 may be folded over the intermediate end closure 79 anda fiap 81 integral with this cover inserted in the box alongside theinner surface of the shorter side wall 69. The cover 80 is shaped tocover the compartment between one side wall 70 and the inner wall 75,the balance of the cover being somewhat shorter, so as to cover thecompartment spaced between the inner wall 75 and the other side wall 69.When an end of the box has been closed, with the flap 81 inserted inplace within the box, the box construction is held in place, the closingof the other end of the box, which is formed with the closure and covermembers 77 to 81 like the end disclosed in Fig. 3, will complete the boxand confine a supply of stacked hooks 10 within it.

The box 24, with a supply of hooks 10 therein, is suitably supported invertical position on the apparatus within a box holder attached to thetop plate. This box holder has a base portion 82 attached to the topplate 21 in any suitable manner, as by means of screws 83, from which aninner side wall 84 extends that has a width corresponding to the shorterside wall 69 of the box. A short back wall 85 is disposed substantiallyat right angles to the side wall 84 and is of a width corresponding tothe length of the back wall 73 of the box. A front wall 86 extends atright angles to the side wall 84 and is of a width corresponding to thefront wall 71 of the box. The support for the box also includes avertical gate wall 87 adapted to be disposed against the longer sidewall 70 of the box, this gate wall being secured to a fiat horizontalportion 88 pivoted to the top of the apparatus, as by means of a pivotscrew 89. The gate 87 is swung about its pivot screw 89 to an openposition, such as shown in broken lines in Fig. l, which will allow thebox 24 of hooks to be inserted in appropriate position in the apparatus,between the back, side and front walls 85, 84, 86 of the holder,whereupon the gate 87, 88 is shifted to closed position to form anotherconfining side wall 87 securing the box of hooks in the appropriatevertical position over the opening 25 in the top plate 21. Of course,before a box of hooks is inserted in place, the inner end closures 77,78, intermediate end closures 79, and cover 80, 81 will be torn from thebottom end so that the latter is open, to allow a successive downwardfeeding of the hooks 10 into the drive plate slot end recess portions26, 28.

In the use of the apparatus described, the gauge 61 is adjusted to theappropriate position and a portion of the drape that is to have a hookinserted therewithin is placed on the top supporting plate 54, with itsend disposed against the gauge flange 65. The supporting plate 54 isthen depressing against the force of the springs 59 until the seam ofthe drape is disposed in alignment with the indicator finger 68. Theswitch starter button 49 is then manipulated, which will cause the driveplate 18 to be shifted from an initial starting position disclosed inFig. 4 to the rearward position shown in Fig. 6, the cam slot 33appropriately turning the plate at an angle to the forward edge 21a ofthe top plate, wherein it is disposed under the supply of hooks 10 inthe box 24. During such rearward movement of the plate, it covers theopening 25 in plate 21 and prevents hooks from dropping out of the box,until its slotted, recess portion 26, 28 becomes aligned with the stackof hooks. When this occurs, the lowermost hook in the box is droppedinto the slot and recess portion, which can only accommodate a singlebook. As the drive unit 40, crank 45 and connecting rod 47 continue torotate, the plate 18 will then be driven in a forward direction, thepoint 12 of the pin 11 being on the verge of being inserted into thedrape. When such position is reached, the projection 52 on the crank armengages the stop button operating arm 51, to shift the switch to acircuit opening position, to stop the drive unit, which may, if desired,have a suitable magnetic brake incorporated therein to insure a rapidstopping of the apparatus. Before the mechanism stops, the projection 52rides off the arm 51. The operator can then ascertain that the drape isin a proper position on the supporting plate 54, and that the supportingplate has been shifted vertically to the proper position with respect tothe gauge finger 68, whereupon the starting button 49 will again bedepressed, which will cause the driving mechanism to shift the plate 18in a forward direction, piercing the point 12 of the pin into 7 lhefabric'of the drape at its seam and then'shiftingthe pin ,11 ;and theinner arm 14 lengthwise along the drape, asgindicated in Fig. 8, untilthe 'cam slot again shifts the forward portion of the drive plate in adirection outwardly of the drape, to cause the point 12 of the pin toagain pierce the fabric of the drape. When this has occurred, the switchoperating member 53 on the crank member will have. engaged the stopbutton operating arm 51, to again stop the drive mechanism, the partsoccupying the position shown in Fig. 4. When in this position, the hookis disposed in alignment with the opening 39 in the top plate,permitting the drape to be lifted upwardly to remove the arm portions 14to 17 of the hook from the drive plate 18.

The operator then places another portion of the drape on the supportingplate 54 and again pushes the starter button 49, which will againactuate the mechanism to shift the plate to the position shown in Fig.6, wherein itwill pick up the next succeeding hook 10, which will becomecoupled to the drive plate, the parts again coming to rest in theposition shown in Fig. 7, when the crank arm projection 52 againactuates the switch stop button 50. After assurance that the drape is inthe proper position with respect to the guide or finger 68, the startingbutton49 is again depressed and the hook 10 is driven into the fabric ofthe drape and along the drape, the point 12 being moved again in anoutward direction to a slight extent to again pierce the fabric, asdisclosed in Fig. 4. This hook 10 can then be removed from the driveplate through the opening 39.

The foregoing cycle is then repeated as often as neces- .sary. to inserthooks into the drapes at the desired locatrons.

"The hooks 10 are normally inserted at a seam of the pleated portion ofthe drape. However, it is not desired for the pin portion 11 of the hookto be disposed within and in alignment with the line of stitching at theseam, since such stitching may be torn. Instead, it is desired that thepoint 12 of the pin enter and be secured in place by the fabric of thedrape itself. This is accomplishedautomatically in the apparatusdisclosed inthe drawings by the expedient of inclining the supportingplate 54 in a downward direction toward the left side of the apparatus,as disclosed in Fig. 2. The extent of inclination need not be verygreat, and can be achieved simply by inclining the bracket 58 throughwhich the guide rods 55 extend, the guide rods being normal to thebracket flanges 56, 57, which will place the supporting plate 54 in thedesired inclined position.

With the supporting plate 54 in an inclined position, the seam of thedrape placed thereupon will then be disposed in an inclined positionwith respect to the drive plate 18 and the book 10 mounted therein.Thus, when the point 12 of the pin is forced into the drape D at theseam S, it will not travel along the seam, but will be 1inserted intothe fabric itself, inasmuch as the pin 11 isgdisposed at a slight angleto theseam S, such as shown somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 10. As thedrive plate 18 projects the pin along the drape, it will move along thedrapery material itself, and not along the seam or line of stitching S.Finally, when the point 12 of the pin is again projected in an outwarddirection, it will .be projected into the fabric itself, since by thistime the point is disposed a substantial distance (which need actuallybe only a slight distance R) from the seam or :line of stitching, suchas disclosed in Fig. 10.

It is, accordingly, apparent that an apparatus has ,been provided whichis capable of automatically dis- ;pe nsing and inserting hooks intodrapery in a highly effective manner and at the desired locations of thedrape. A secure attachment of each book to the drape is in sand, the pinportion of the hook being disposed and attached to the drapery materialitself, and not being supported only by the seam ofthe drape. Theapparatus -readi1y-adjustable to accommodate drapes, or similararticles, of various thicknesses merely by depressing the supportingplate 54 to the desired position until the seam S at which the hook isto be inserted is opposite the hook itself, as determined by the guideor indicator 66. A substantial supply of hooks can be easily mounted inthe paper box or container 24, which will hold vthe hooks in a properstacked relation, one above another, and which box can be manufacturedfrom a single sheet of material, being formed in an easy manner withoutthe need for gluing, stapling, or otherwise adhering. any of the boxparts to one another. The configuration 'of the box itself holds thehook portions in proper relation to each other and confines the hooksagainst loss therefrom.

The inventor claims:

1. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes'and the like; a supporthaving a surface upon which the drape can be held with its plait in afolded condition andLthe seam of the drape facing rearwardly of thesupport; a drive member adapted toreceive and be coupled to a draperyhook having a pin portion, said drive member being disposed in a planegenerally parallel to and offset from the plane of said support surface;cam means operatively connected to said drive member to guide said drivemember and hook from a position in whichthe pin portion is inclined tothe drape to enable such portion to be forced by the drive member intothe drape, said cam meansthen guiding said drive member along a pathlengthwise of the drape to substantially fully dispose the pin portionin the drape.

2. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a supportfor a drape; a drive member adapted toreceive and be coupled to adrapery hook having apin portion; cam means operatively connected tosaid drive member to guide said drive member and hook from a positioninwhich the pin portion is inclined to the drape to enable such portionto be forced by the drive member into the drape, said cam means thenguiding said drive member along a path lengthwise of the drapetosubstantially fully dispose the pin portion in the drape; said cammeans shifting said drive member in a direction outwardly of the drape,after the pin portion has been substantially fully disposed in thedrape, to force the point of the pin portion back into the drape.

3. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a supportfor a drape; a drive member adapted to receive and be coupled to adrapery hook having a pin portion; cam means operatively connected tosaid drive member to guide said drive member and hook along-a path withrespect to said drape; and means for reciproeating said drive memberwith respect to said cam means between a rear position at which thedrive member portion forces the pin portion into the drape to a forwardposition lengthwise of the drape, said cam means forcing the point ofthe pin portion in an outward direction into the drape at said forwardposition.

4. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a supportfor a drape; a drive member having an opening therein to receive adrapery hook having a pin portion terminating in a point; means forsupporting a supply of drapery hooks; cam means operatively connected tosaid drive member to guide said drive member along a path from a firstposition aligned with said supporting means to allow a hook to shiftinto said drive member opening and be coupled to said drivemember, to asecond position at which the pin portion of thehook is inclined to thedrape to enable said drive member to force the point into the drape,along a path generally lengthwise of the drape to a third position atwhich said pin portion is substantially fully disposed within the drapeand the pin portion is inclined in a direction outwardly of the drape tocause the drive member to force the point of the pin portion back intothe drape at said third position; and means for reciprocating -saiddrive membet with respect to said cam means between said first and thirdpositions.

5. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: upper andlower guide members, one of said members having a front edge; a supportfor a drape adjacent said front edge; a drive plate between and slidablealong said members, said plate having an opening to receive a draperyhook provided with a pin portion terminating in a point, said uppermember having an opening overlying said plate; means for supporting asupply of drapery hooks in alignment with said upper member opening;means providing a slidable cam connection between said drive plate andone of said members to guide said plate along a path from a firstposition in which said plate opening is aligned with said upper memberopening to allow a hook to shift into said plate opening and be coupledto said plate, to a second position at which the pin portion of the hookis inclined to the drape to enable said plate to force the point intothe drape, along a path lengthwise of said front edge to -a thirdposition at which said pin portion is substantially fully disposedwithin the drape and the pin portion is inclined in a directionoutwardly of the drape to cause the plate to force the point of the pinportion back into the drape at said third position; and means forreciprocating said plate along said guide members between said first andthird positions.

6. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: spaced upperand lower guide members, one of said members having a front edge; asupport for a drape adjacent said front edge; a drive plate between andslidable along said members, said plate having an opening to receive adrapery hook provided with a pin portion terminating in a point; saidupper member having an opening overlying said plate; means forsupporting a supply of drapery hooks in alignment with said upper memberopening; said lower guide member having a cam slot therein having a rearportion inclined with respect to said front edge, an intermediateportion generally parallel to said front edge; follower means on saidplate disposed in said cam slot; and means for reciprocating said platewith respect to said cam slot to cause said plate to move along a pathfrom a first rear position in which said plate opening is in alignmentwith said upper member opening to allow a hook to shift into said plateopening and be coupled to said plate, to a second rear position at whichthe pin portion of the hook is disposed adjacent said front edge andinclined to the drape to enable said plate to force the point into thedrape, along a path lengthwise of said front edge to a third position atwhich said pin portion is substantially fully disposed Within the drape.

7. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: spaced upperand lower guide members, one of said members having a front edge; asupport for a drape adjacent said front edge; a drive plate between andslidable along said members, said plate having an opening to receive adrapery hook provided with a pin portion terminating in a point; saidupper member having an opening overlying said plate; means forsupporting a supply of drapery hooks in alignment with said upper memberopening; said lower guide member having a cam slot therein having a rearportion inclined with respect to said front edge, an intermediateportion generally parallel to said front edge; follower means on saidplate disposed in said cam slot; and means for reciprocating said platewith respect to said cam slot to cause said plate to move along a pathfrom a first rear position in which said plate opening is in alignmentwith said upper member opening to allow a hook to shift into said plateopening and be coupled to said plate, to a second rear position at whichthe pin portion of the hook is dis- :posed adjacent said front edge andinclined to the drape to enable said plate to force the point into thedrape,

along a path lengthwise of said front edge to a third 10 position atwhich said pin portion is substantially fully disposed within the drape;said upper member having an opening alignable with said plate openingwhen said plate is in said third position to permit said hook to bewithdrawn from said plate.

8. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a supportfor a drape; a drive member having an opening thereon to receive adrapery hook having a pin portion terminating in a point; means forsupporting a supply of drapery hooks; cam means operatively connected tosaid drive member to guide said drive member along a path from a firstposition aligned with said supporting means to allow a hook to shiftinto said drive member opening and be coupled to said drive member, to asecond position at which the pin portion of the hook is inclined to thedrape to enable said drive member to force the point into the drape,along a path generally lengthwise of the drape to a third position atwhich said pin portion is substantially fully disposed within the drapeand the pin portion is inclined in a direction outwardly of the drape tocause the drive member to force the point of the pin portion back intothe drape at said third position; means for reciprocating said drivemember with respect to said cam means between said first and thirdpositions; and means for automatically stopping said drive member atsaid second position and third position.

9. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: spaced upperand lower guide members, one of said members having a front edge; asupport for a drape adjacent said front edge; a drive plate between andslidable along said members, said plate having an opening to receive adrapery hook provided with a pin portion terminating in a point; saidupper member having an opening overlying said plate; means forsupporting a supply of drapery hooks in alignment with said upper memberopening; said lower guide member having a cam slot therein having a rearportion inclined with respect to said front edge, an intermediateportion generally parallel to said front edge; follower means on saidplate disposed in said cam slot; means for reciprocating said plate withrespect to said carn slot to cause said plate to move along a path froma first rear position in which said plate opening is in alignment withsaid upper member opening to allow a hook to shift into said plateopening and be coupled to said plate, to a second rear position at whichthe pin portion of the hook is disposed adjacent said front edge andinclined to the drape to enable said plate to force the point into thedrape, along a path lengthwise of said front edge to a third position atwhich said pin portion is substantially disposed within the drape; andmeans for automatically stopping said plate at said second position andthird position.

10. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a supportfor a drape; a drive member adapted to receive and be coupled to adrapery hook having a pin portion; cam means operatively connected tosaid drive member to guide said drive member and hook from a position inwhich the pin portion is inclined to the drape to enable such portion tobe forced by the drive member into the drape, said cam means thenguiding said drive member along a path lengthwise of the drape tosubstantially fully dispose the pin portion in the drape; and springmeans mounting said support for yieldable vertical adjustment withrespect to said drive member to enable a drape on said support to beforced thereagainst in order to shift the drape to a position in which adrape seam is aligned with the pin portion of the drapery hook.

11. An apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a supportfor a drape; a drive member adapted to receive and be coupled to adrapery hook having a pin portion; cam means operatively connected tosaid drive member to guide said drive member and hook from a position inwhich the pin portion is inclined to the drape to enable such portion tobe forced by the drive member into the drape, said cam means thenguiding said drive memberralongzaepath lengthwisetofthe drape tosubslitm tially fully disposeathepin portion inthedrape; and means mountingsaid support in a plane inclined to the plane of movement of said drivemember, whereby said support holds the drape with its seam lying in aplane inclined to the plane of the drapery hook when coupled to thedrive member.

12. In apparatus for. inserting'hooks in drapes and the like: a supportfor a drape; a drive member adapted toreceiveand be coupled to a draperyhook having a pin portion; cam means operatively connected to said drivemember to guide said drive member and hook from a position in which thepin portion is inclined to the drape to: enable such portion to beforced by the drive member into the drape, said cam means then guidingsaid drive member along a path lengthwise of the drape to substantiallyfully dispose the pin portion in the drape; means mounting said; supportin a plane inclined to the plane of movement of said drive member,whereby said supportholds the drape with its seam lying in a planeinclined to the plane of the drapery hook when coupled to the drivemember; and means for shifting said support transversely with respect tothe plane of movement of said drive member.

13. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: spacedupper and lower guide members, one ofsaid members having a front edge; asupport for a drape adjacent said front edge; a drive plate between andslidable along said members,- said plate having an opening to rewho adrapery hook provided with a pin portion terminating in a point; saidupper member having an opening overlying said plate; means forsupporting'a supply of drapery hooks in alignment with said upper memberopening; said lowerguide member having a cam slot therein having a rearportion inclined with respect to said front edge, an intermediateportion generally parallel to said front edge; follower means on saidplate disposed in said cam slot; means for reciprocating said plate withrespect to said cam slotto cause said plate to move along a path from afirst rearposition in which said plate openingds in alignment with saidupper member'opening to allow a hook to shift into said plate openingand be coupled to said plate, to a second rear position at which the pinportion ofthe hook is disposed adjacent said front edge and inclined tothe drapeto enable said plate to force the-point into the drape,-along apath lengthwise of said front edge-to a third positionat which said -pinportion is substantially-fully disposed within the drape; and meansmounting said support for disposition in a plane inclined with respectto the plane of movement of said plate, whereby said support holds thedrape with its seam lying in a plane inclined to the plane of thedrapery hoolc when coupled to the plate.

14. In apparatusfor inserting "hooks in, drapes and the like: spacedupper and lower guide members, one of said 'members having a front edge;a support for a drape adjacent said front edge; a drive'plate betweenand slidable --along said members, said plate having an opening to re-:ceive a drapery hook provided with a pin portion termi- -nating in apoint; said upper member having an opening overlying said plate; meansfor supporting a supply of drapery hooks in alignment with said uppermember open- "ing; said lower guide member having a cam slot thereinhaving a rear portion inclined with respect to said front edge, anintermediate portion generally parallel tosaid front edge; followermeans on said plate disposed in said cam slot; means for reciprocatingsaid platewith respect to said cam slot to cause said plate to movealong a path from a first rear position in which said plate opening isin alignment with said uppermember opening to allow a hook to shift intosaid plate opening and be coupled to said plate, to a second rearposition at which the pin portion of 'the hook is disposed adjacent'saidfront edgeand inclined to the drape to enable said plate to forcethepoint into the drape, along a path lengthwise 1'2 ofsaidfrontedge to athird position at which said, pin portion is substantially fullydisposed Within the drape; means mounting said support for dispositionin a plane, inclined with respect to the plane of movement of saidplate,

whereby said support holds the drape with its seam lying in a planeinclined to the plane of the drapery hook when coupled to the plate; andmeans for adjusting the vertical position of said support with respectto said plate.

15. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: spacedupper and lower guide members, one of said members having a front edge;a support for a drape adjacent said front edge; a drive plate betweenand slidable along said members, said plate having an opening to receivea drapery hook provided with a pin portion terminating in a point; saidupper member having an opening overlying said plate; means forsupporting a supply of drapery hooks in alignment with said upper memberopening; said lower guide member having a cam slot therein having a rearportion inclined with respect to said front edge, an intermediateportion generally parallel to said front edge; follower means'on saidplate disposed in said cam slot; means for reciprocating-said plate withrespect to said cam slot to cause said plate to move along a path from afirst rear position in which saidplate opening is in alignment with saidupper member opening to allow a hook to shift into said plate openingand be coupled to said plate, to a second rear position at which the pinportion of the hook is disposed adjacent said front edge and inclined tothe drape to enable said plate to force the point into the drape, alonga path length wise of said, front edge to a third position at which saidpin portion is substantially fully disposed Within the drape; meansmounting said support for disposition in a plane inclined with respectto the plane of movement of said plate, whereby said support holds thedrape with its seam lying in aplane inclined to the plane of the draperyhook when coupled to the plate; means for adjusting the verticalposition of-said support with respect to said plate; and meansforiautomatically stopping said plate at said second position and thirdposition.

l6. In-apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: adrivemember adapted to receive and be coupled to a drapery hook having apin portion; a support having a. substantially plane surface generallyparallel to the plane .of movement of said drive member and upon whichthe drape can be held with its plait in a folded condition and the seamof the drape facing toward the drive member; means for adjusting saidsupport to place said surface ,in an offset relation to the plane ofmovement of said member to guide said drive member and hook from aposition in which the pin portion is inclined to the drape to enablesuch portion to be forced by the drive member into the drapeseam, saidcam means then guiding said drive member along a path lengthwise of thedrape to substantially fully dispose the pin portion in the drape.

17. Inapparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and .the like: asubstantially horizontally disposed drive member adapted to receive andbe coupled to a drapery hook having a pin portion; a support having asubstantially horizotnal surface upon which the drape can be held withits plait in a folded condition and the seam of the drape facing towardthe drive member; means for vertically adjustingtsaid .support to placeits horizontal surface in a plane below the horizontal plane of movementof said drive member and the seam of the drape in substantial alignmentwith the horizontal plane of movement of said drive member; cam meansoperatively connected to said drlve member to guide said drive memberand book from a position in which the pin portion is inclined to thedrape to enable such portion to be forced by the drive i member into thedrape seam, said cam means then guiding said drive member along a pathlengthwiseof the drape 13 to substantially fully dispose the pin portionin the drape.

18. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: upper andlower generally horizontally disposed guide members, one of said membershaving a front edge; a generally horizontally disposed support for adrape adjacent said front edge; a drive plate between and slidable alongsaid members, said plate having an opening to receive a drapery hookprovided with a pin portion terminating in a point, said upper memberhaving an opening overlying said plate; means for supporting a verticalstack of drapery hooks above and in alignment with said upper memberopening; means providing a slidable cam connection between said driveplate and one of said members to guide said plate along a path from afirst position in which said plate opening is aligned with said uppermember opening to allow a book from the stack to drop into said plateopening and be coupled to said plate, to a second position at which thepin portion of the hook is inclined to the drape to enable said plate toforce the point into the drape, along a path lengthwise of said frontedge to a third position at which said pin portion is substantiallyfully disposed within the drape; and means for reciprocating said platealong said guide members between said first and third positions.

19. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a supportfor a drape; a drive member having an opening thereon to receive adrapery hook having a pin portion terminating in a point; means forsupporting a supply of drapery hooks; cam means operatively connected tosaid drive member to guide said drive member along a path from a firstposition aligned with said supporting means to allow a hook to shiftinto said drive member opening and be coupled to said drive member, to asecond position at which the pin portion of the hook isinclined to thedrape to enable said drive member to force the point into the drape,along a path generally lengthwise of the drape to a third position atwhich said pin portion is substantially fully disposed within the drape,means for reciprocating said drive member with respect to said cam meansbetween said first and third positions; and means for automaticallystopping said drive member at said second position.

20. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a supportfor a drape; a drive member adapted to receive and be coupled to adrapery hook having a pin portion; cam means operatively connected tosaid drive member to guide said drive member and hook from a position inwhich the pin portion is inclined to the drape to enable such portion tobe forced by the drive member into the drape, said cam means thenguiding said drive member along a path lengthwise of the drape tosubstantially fully dispose the pin portion in the drape; and means forpositioning a drape on said support with the drape seam lying in a planeinclined to the plane of movement of said drive member and of thedrapery hook coupled thereto and with a portion of the seam aligned withthe pin portion of the drapery hook.

21. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a generallyhorizontally disposed support for a drape; a generally horizontallyarranged drive member adapted to receive and be coupled to a draperyhook having a pin portion; cam means operatively connected to said drivemember to guide said drive member and hook from a position in which thepin portion is inclined to the drape to enable such portion to be forcedby the drive member into the drape, said cam means then guiding saiddrive member along a path lengthwise of the drape to substantially fullydispose the pin portion in the drape; means for positioning a drape onsaid support with the drape seam lying in a plane inclined to thegenerally horizontal plane of movement of said drive member and of thedrapery hook coupled thereto and with a portion of the seam aligned withthe pin portion of the drapery hook; and means for vertically shiftingsaid support with respect to the generally horizontal plane of movementof 14 said drive member to align the drapery seam with the pin portionof the drapery hook.

22. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a drivemember adapted to receive and be coupled to a drapery hook having a pinportion; means operatively connected to said drive member to drive saiddrive member and hook from a rearward position in which the pin portionis inclined to the drape to enable the pin portion to be forced into thedrape, said means then guiding said drive member along a path lengthwiseof the drape to a forward position in which the pin portion issubstantially fully disposed in the drape; and means for bodilytranslating said drive member between said rearward and forwardpositions.

23. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a drivemember adapted to receive and be coupled to a drapery hook having a pinportion; means opertively connected to said drive member to drive saiddrive member and hook from a rearward position in which the pin portionis inclined to the drape to enable the pin portion to be forced into thedrape, said means then turning said drive member to correspondingly turnthe pin portion to a position lengthwise of the drape, said means thenguiding said drive member along a substantially straight path lengthwiseof the drape to a forward position in which the pin portion issubstantially fully disposed in the drape; and means for shifting saiddrive member between said rearward and forward positions.

24. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: spacedupper and lower guide members; a drive plate between and slidable alongsaid members, said plate having an opening to receive a drapery hookprovided with a pin portion terminating in a point; said upper memberhaving an opening overlying said plate; means for supporting a supply ofdrapery hooks in alignment with said upper member opening; said lowerguide member having a cam slot therein; follower means on said platedisposed in said cam slot; and means for reciprocating said plate withrespect to said cam slot to cause said plate to move along a pathbetween a position in which said plate opening is in alignment with saidupper member opening, to allow a hook to shift into said plate openingand be coupled to said plate, and a position at which the pin portion issubstantially fully disposed within the drape.

25. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: spacedupper and lower guide members; a drive plate between and slidable alongsaid members, said plate having an opening to receive a drapery hookprovided with a pin portion terminating in a point; said upper memberhaving an opening overlying said plate; means for supporting a supply ofdrapery hooks in alignment with said upper member opening; meansoperatively connected to said drive plate to guide said drive plate andhook from a rearward position in which said plate opening is inalignment with said upper member opening, to allow a hook to move intosaid plate opening and be coupled to said plate, along a path lengthwiseof a drape to a forward position at which the pin portion issubstantially fully disposed within the drape; and means for bodilytranslating said drive plate between said rearward and forwardpositions.

26. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like: a drivemember adapted to be coupled to a drapery hook having a pin portion;means operatively connected to said drive member to drive said drivemember and hook from a rearward position in which the pin portion isinclined to the drape to a forward position in which the pin portion issubstantially fully disposed in the drape; and work aligning means insubstantial alignment with the pin portion when the hook is in therearward poistion against which the drapery seam can be placed with thework aligning means disposed in said seam to align the seam with the pinportion of the hook.

27. In apparatus for inserting hooks in drapes and the like'zatdrivel.membenpadapted to; be eoupled sto'laidtapetyi hook having a pinportion;meansopemtively connected tol said drive member to-.drive-said;drivelzmember and hook from a rearwardposition inwhich the.pin portion is inclined to the drape to a forward position {in whichthepin portion is substantially fully disposedimthefdrape;

and work aligning means in substantialalignment with the pin portionwhen the hook is in the rearward position against which the drapery seamcanbe placedawith the.-

work aligning means disposed in :said-seam :to; align the sean awith thepin portion'of the, hookysaidxworktalign ing-means beingldisposed insuch position that'the pin, portion of the hook moves along thejnnerportionlofi-the work aligning means during movement of said drive memberfrom'its rearward to its forwardapositiont.

28. In apparatus for. inserting-h0aksvin; drapes and-: the like: adrivemember adaptedvto .beucoupled to a drapery hook: having a pin,portion; means operatively connected. to-said drive ,membertodrivesaiddrive membenlandvhookz from al rearward position ,in .;whir:h, ;the pin1 portio His inclined to ;;the;;dr ape. to :a forward 3 position 1 inwhich, ,the pin portion is substantially fu l ly..,disposedin the drape;and yieldablework aligning means insnb stantial alignment with the pin.portion when the hook is in the rearward position against which thedrapery seam can be placed with'the workaligning means-disposed in saidseam to depress the work aligning means inwardly and to align the seamwith the pin portion ofthe hook.

References Cited 'inthe file of 'this patent or the origmal patent;

UNITED STATES, PATENTS Svens on Dect 26, 1933 2,403,222. Howells--. July2, 1946 2,403,947 Oussani July 16,. 1946" 2,643,307 Gcel Junc 23; 19532,692,382 Raphael; ,0ct.;,26, 195 4

